Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Surat Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Surat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $423 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $913 in Surat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $677 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $951 in Surat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $932 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $989 in Surat.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) costs roughly 54% less than in Surat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kolkata (Calcutta) 68% lower, Surat 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.16 ₹305

$3.57 ₹344

-11.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.50 ₹1,107

$11.68 ₹1,125

-1.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.92 ₹474

$3.41 ₹329

44.28%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₹177

$1.70 ₹164

8.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₹36.28

$0.42 ₹40.54

-9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 ₹12.57

$0.17 ₹16.79

-23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 ₹171

$3.29 ₹317

-45.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₹281

$4.13 ₹397

-29.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 ₹66.4

$0.74 ₹71.5

-6.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 ₹40.78

$0.53 ₹50.9

-20.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 ₹67.9

$0.67 ₹65.0

4.48%

Eggs

$1.02 ₹98.1

$0.99 ₹95.1

3.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.33 ₹513

$5.14 ₹495

3.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.92 ₹281

$3.23 ₹311

-9.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 ₹245

$1.50 ₹144

69.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 ₹77.6

$0.65 ₹62.6

24.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ₹121

$0.96 ₹92.7

31.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 ₹57.8

$0.67 ₹64.7

-10.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 ₹38.85

$0.36 ₹34.27

11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 ₹57.2

$0.40 ₹38.42

47.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 ₹40.30

$0.55 ₹52.9

-23.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₹29.33

$0.34 ₹32.88

-11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.87 ₹373

$3.89 ₹374

-0.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₹883

$7.72 ₹743

18.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₹160

$2.68 ₹258

-38.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₹242

$4.08 ₹393

-38.24%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$7.55 ₹727

$8.53 ₹821

-11.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹21.12

$0.22 ₹21.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.87 ₹277

$5.97 ₹574

-51.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 ₹53.8

$0.95 ₹91.4

-41.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ₹28.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 ₹192

$1.15 ₹111

73.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₹118

$1.19 ₹114

3.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$15.5K ₹1.5M

$11.7K ₹1.1M

33.09%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.8K ₹2.2M

$21.6K ₹2.1M

5.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.64 ₹4,009

$37.81 ₹3,641

10.13%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 ₹391

$3.36 ₹323

20.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.18 ₹691

$7.79 ₹750

-7.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.93 ₹1,534

$17.98 ₹1,731

-11.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.45 ₹1,102

$6.72 ₹647

70.39%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 ₹384

$2.87 ₹276

39.02%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$43.39 ₹4,178

$48.12 ₹4,633

-9.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,558 ₹150.0K

$1,299 ₹125.1K

19.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.22 ₹2,717

$23.93 ₹2,304

17.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.66 ₹2,952

$24.85 ₹2,393

23.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.15 ₹4,732

$42.24 ₹4,067

16.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.01 ₹3,082

$42.05 ₹4,049

-23.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 ₹15.4K

$243 ₹23.4K

-34.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.5 ₹8,619

$556 ₹53.6K

-83.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₹37.1K

$495 ₹47.7K

-22.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 ₹18.1K

$278 ₹26.8K

-32.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,161 ₹111.8K

$697 ₹67.1K

66.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$573 ₹55.2K

$307 ₹29.6K

86.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$373 ₹35.9K

$323 ₹31.1K

15.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.9

9.2

7.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): July 14, 2026

Last update for Surat: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $243 in Surat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $11.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $12.00 in Surat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $114 vs $115 per month, with Kolkata (Calcutta) cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Kolkata (Calcutta) vs Surat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kolkata (Calcutta) wins on cost – living expenses run 116% lower than in Surat. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kolkata (Calcutta) the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 15% higher in Kolkata (Calcutta), which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $160 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $243 in Surat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $423 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $913 in Surat – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kolkata (Calcutta) runs roughly 108% less than in Surat. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Kolkata (Calcutta) gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Kolkata (Calcutta) and Surat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kolkata (Calcutta) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Surat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.